LMCT transition-based red-light photochemotherapy using a tumour-selective ferrocenyl iron(iii) coumarin conjugate

A rationally designed iron(iii) complex (2a) with pendant ferrocene and naturally occurring coumarin (esculetin) shows LMCT transition-based mitochondria-targeted red-light (600-720 nm) induced apoptotic toxicity against cancer cells but remains innocuous in the dark and to normal cells.